Part of the joy of each holiday are the traditions that we get to enjoy only at that holiday season. We hide Easter baskets with chocolate bunnies. We give Valentine's cards. At Christmas, we decorate the tree a certain way, watch our favorite movies, drive through the light shows, or see the church Christmas play. … Continue reading Holiday Traditions
The Christmas season should be fun, relaxing, and joyful… but sometimes stress gets in the way. It’s busy, there’s extra shopping to do, more parties to attend, travel arrangements to make – but it is still possible to enjoy the holiday season. Read on for nine tips that may help your family this Christmas. Build … Continue reading Nine Tips for your Family’s Joy-Filled, Meaningful, Low-Stress Christmas Holiday Season
One of the most common things that people pray for is patience. We struggle when we have to wait for things. Sometimes we are waiting eagerly. Other times we wait with frustration and grumbling. Waiting is hard. Yet today, on the first Sunday of the 2018 church season of Advent, we have an opportunity to … Continue reading Waiting Well: The Season of Advent
Your family probably has some great Thanksgiving traditions. Turkey. Pie. Football. Many families go around the table to share something that they are thankful for. But why? Does it really matter if we “give thanks”? In a word… YES. Social science research that clearly shows how gratitude positively impacts our own happiness, energy level, relationships, … Continue reading Does it really matter if I give thanks?
The holidays are a very difficult time for those who are grieving. Whether a loved one has died, your parents recently got divorced, or you lost a job, grief comes in many forms and impacts us in different ways. How do we manage that during the holiday season? Expect many emotions. During the grieving process, … Continue reading Managing Grief During The Holidays
The two most obvious, frequent, and fun elements of the Halloween holiday also tend to capture most of our attention: costumes and candy. Even teenagers (and let’s be honest, adults too) will pull out a mask or don some sort of a costume in order to enjoy a bag full of sweets at the end … Continue reading Parenting through the Sugar Rush of Halloween (or any other holiday)
The U.S.A. celebrated the Fourth of July this week – a holiday known for cook-outs, pool parties, and fireworks. This is our nation’s Independence Day! We gain value from the past when we not only reflect and remember, but when we also put into practice the lessons learned. Here are a few tidbits of history … Continue reading Looking back at the Fourth of July
If you live in South Carolina and have kids, you probably experienced Spring Break last week. Many folks go to the beach, go camping, or take some other type of vacation during a school break. But what do you do when you need a break, but you can’t take the time off from work or … Continue reading Taking a vacation when you can’t take a vacation
Ash Wednesday is a holy day on the church calendar, bringing in the season of Lent, which leads up to Easter weekend. During this season, Christians focus on penance, fasting, and preparing for the weight and glory of Easter. Why ashes? Church services on Ash Wednesday focus on penance and fasting. Ashes are often put … Continue reading What is Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent?
Happy Valentine’s Day! Today, will you pray with us today for the marriages in our churches and community? O God Almighty, you have established the bond and covenant of marriage. You bring husband and wife together in a union of heart, body, and mind, for their mutual joy, for help and comfort, and for nurturing … Continue reading A prayer for marriage on Valentine’s Day